The Tennessee Valley Authority started the new year with a new president and chief executive officer and four new TVA board nominees being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Bill Johnson, newly named TVA president and CEO, was welcomed Wednesday by TVA employees to his first day on the job.

Retiring CEO Tom Kilgore presented Johnson with the ceremonial “Keys to TVA” as a symbol of the $11 billion agency’s transition to new leadership, according to a news release.

In a message to TVA employees, Johnson said his initial focus will be to continue learning more about TVA, its business and its people. Over the next few months, his plans include traveling across TVA’s seven-state service area to visit the Authority’s facilities and offices; local power companies and industrial customers; and key public officials to hear firsthand about TVA successes and opportunities for improvement.

“TVA’s service mission of cleaner, low cost energy, environmental stewardship, and sustainable economic growth is as important today as ever,” Johnson stated. “TVA is a unique entity with a rich history, and I thank the TVA board and the people of the Tennessee Valley for allowing me the opportunity to be part of that successful tradition.”

Johnson moved to Knoxville with Sally, his wife of more than 36 years. His hobbies and interests include gardening, working out, home improvement projects, and baking breads, pastries and cakes. He also enjoys a wide variety of music, including classic country, classic rock, bluegrass, reggae and opera, and is an avid reader.

The TVA Board of Directors on Nov. 5, 2012, named Johnson to succeed Tom Kilgore, who had served as TVA’s first president and CEO since 2006.

Johnson’s debut coincides with the U.S. Senate confirmation of four new TVA Board nominees. In November, three of the board’s nine positions became vacant and two others ended when the current session of Congress concluded.

The Senate on Tuesday approved the nominations of Vera Lynn Evans of Tennessee, C. Peter Mahurin of Kentucky, Michael McWherter of Tennessee and Joe H. Ritch of Alabama to fill vacancies on the nine-member board.

The annual base stipend for board members is $48,900.

President Barack Obama made the nominations in February and September. One board member, Marilyn Brown, also was nominated by the president for reappointment, but her nomination was not voted on by the full Senate.

In a statement, TVA Chairman Bill Sansom said, “I am pleased the Senate has confirmed the nominations of these four outstanding individuals who will provide strong business, financial and public service leadership to TVA.”

Tennessee Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker also welcomed the new members to the board of the utility,.

Page 2 of 2 - “I believe, after meeting these individuals and studying their backgrounds and qualifications, that they will provide strong board leadership,” Alexander said in a statement.

“I appreciate the willingness of experienced individuals to serve TVA as it goes through an important leadership transition over the next few months,” Corker said in a statement.